May 14, 2010

Follow Friday – LostCousins

This is my first Follow Friday post and I heartily recommend you to visit LostCousins if you haven’t done so already. (I haven’t worked out how to do links in blogposts yet, sorry, but there is a link for LostCousins in my sidebar if you would like to use that)!

I think it best to copy here the details given by the founder of LostCousins, Peter Calver, on his website, as he can explain it far better than I could.

Copied here with Peter’s permission, from his Read This First page:

“This website is quite unique – out of more than 250,000 genealogy websites it’s the only one that focuses on linking people who share the same ancestors using a highly accurate automated matching system that allows your data to remain hidden. Of course, a unique system requires a different way of doing things, and that’s why – no matter how experienced you are – you’ll need to read this page before going any further!

LostCousins identifies members who share the same ancestors by comparing the information each member has entered on their My Ancestors page. After all, if you and another member have both entered the same relative, it stands to reason that the two of you must also be related to each other!

Once you’ve entered your information the rest is automatic – all you need to do is click the Search button whenever you want to search for new cousins! But LostCousins isn’t just about finding new cousins – the My Cousins page offers a great way to keep track of the cousins you already know.

Because our unique automated matching process is virtually 100% accurate, you won’t waste your time corresponding with people who turn out not to be related – nor will you run the risk of allowing someone who is unrelated to have access to your family tree.

What makes all this possible? The fact that every LostCousins member is taking information from the same online censuses.

Where can you find the census data? Most of the censuses we utilise have been selected because they are available at the free Family Search site, or can be accessed free at subscription sites. The exceptions are the 1841 England & Wales census and the 1881 Scotland census, which aren’t available free online, but you may be able to get free access at your local library or Family History Centre. The Census Links page has links to the best site for each census.

The Help and Advice page has several helpful articles. Even if you’re an experienced researcher “Key Tips for Census Success” is well worth reading – and for anyone new to online research it is essential”.

My Graveyard Rabbit Blog

My Project 365 Blog

YOUR ANCESTORS

If you could see your ancestors
All standing in a row
Would you be proud of them
Or don't you really know?
Some strange discoveries are made
In climbing family trees
And some of them, you know
Do not particularly please!

If you could see your ancestors
All standing in a row
There might be some of them, perhaps
You wouldn't care to know
But here's another question, which
Requires a different view ...
If you could meet your ancestors
Would they be proud of you?(Author unknown)